It’s not Valentine’s Day. Or Sweetest Day. But there is a reason romance will be in the air on April 23. At least at Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville and Downers Grove.

World Book Night has its origins in World Book Day and the anniversary of Cervantes’ death. For almost a hundred years, it’s been a tradition in Catalonia to give a book and a rose to a loved or respected one on April 23. As it is also the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and death, UNESCO has declared April 23 as the International Day of the Book.

World Book Night has now come to several countries, and we celebrate it by asking volunteers to give a book to someone in need. In fact, in 6,200 towns and cities across America, more than 25,000 World Book Night U.S. volunteers will go out and personally hand out a half million free books to new or light readers on April 23, 2013!

Anderson’s Bookshops are among the twelve locations in America this year offering a free rose with the purchase of a World Book Night book pick on April 23. We hope the tradition spreads next year, as does the central theme of World Book Night: books, reading, giving, and community. For more information, visit Worldbooknight.org

Participating Anderson’s Bookshops are located at 123 W. Jefferson Ave., in Naperville and at 5112 Main St. in Downers Grove.

Our World Book Night celebration is part of Anderson’s Bookshops’ calendar of special events. Anderson’s Bookshops specialize in book sales, author events, book signings, and building a sense of community, learning and fun. The store has been helping Naperville readers for six generations. In 1878, Oswald’s pharmacy began selling books as a service to customers. So successful was that side of the business that it became an independent entity in 1964. Based in downtown Naperville, the store has grown with the community ever since. A second location is also open in downtown Downers Grove, at 5112 Main Street (630) 963-2665. A gift shop, Anderson’s Two-Doors East, at 111 W. Jefferson Ave., in Naperville, opened in the fall of 2009. Key to Anderson’s success has been special events, like the April 23 celebration of World Book Night.